Return to Avren

My UK Five City Tour has come to an end. Based in Kettering, I radiated to Bristol, Cambridge, Leicester, Manchester and Milton Keynes - the newest city. It was great to catch up with family and friends, to visit an Indian Restaurant, to have a takeaway fish and chip supper (or two), to sample a … Continue reading Return to Avren →

Preparing for Winter

Wallace Stevens was right about having "a mind of winter". In my last post I wrote about the beauty of autumn, but within that hinted at some of the melancholy of the season. We have enjoyed the soft and colourful parts of autumn, rather like focusing on the feathered fletching of an arrow. Now we … Continue reading Preparing for Winter →

Autumn Comes to Avren

The road to the village from the main Varna to Burgas highway is best described as serpentine. It twists and turns through the forest like a cobra rising, and it could be said we live on its hood - a plateau about 300 metres above sea level. Anyone driving to or from the village at … Continue reading Autumn Comes to Avren →

Extractor Fan and Firewood

There are many ways to be heroic and within those ways there are many degrees of heroism. Simple truths that played out in Avren over the past few days. Extractor Fan The first problem I had to prepare myself to tackle was the bathroom extractor fan that was not actually extracting. There had been strange … Continue reading Extractor Fan and Firewood →

Mindful Wood Stacking in Avren

Over the past few days I have slowly and carefully moved our winter's supply of wood from one shelter to another. The roof of the first shelter is in dire need of repair and could crash down on my head at any time. That is not conducive to mindfulness. My exploits were witnessed at times … Continue reading Mindful Wood Stacking in Avren →

Big Trip – Additional Bits Part I

No-one came back to me with any suggestions for a new project following my last post documenting my return to Croydon, so here I am again going on about the trip that just keeps on giving. I said in one of my earlier posts that I had some photos that were not available at the … Continue reading Big Trip – Additional Bits Part I →

Big Trip Day 128 – London!

We crossed into Belgium just after 07.00 hrs this morning and headed straight to Calais. The hovercraft crossing was delayed by an hour because of a technical fault... ...reared up like roaring monster, great climax then deflated I guess this could apply to many things in life. After the crossing, it was straight back onto … Continue reading Big Trip Day 128 – London! →

Big Trip Day 127 – Still on the Bus

My first travelogue entry for today provides very precise details of how I spent my dwindling funds and exchanged my last 10 dinar note for Austrian shillings. I shall spare you the list of food and snacks I bought, but will note that I saved 1 shilling to use the toilet... ...well invested! This kind … Continue reading Big Trip Day 127 – Still on the Bus →

Big Trip Day 126 – Leaving on a Bus

I guess the title does not have the same romantic appeal as Leaving on a Jet Plane, but it was the Magic Bus from Athens to London (ticket price in 1973 - £19.50). I had a fitful night's sleep because I did not want to miss my alarm and then the bus. I woke long … Continue reading Big Trip Day 126 – Leaving on a Bus →

Big Trip Day 125 – Athens

The final day in Athens has arrived. With my characteristic perspicacity, I noted... Last night was last night but tonight's the last night. I am surprised that I did not record more of my thoughts and feelings about my trip coming to an end. Similarly with leaving Matala. One thinks these moments should be charged … Continue reading Big Trip Day 125 – Athens →